Chicago family staycation at Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel

I’ve said for years that Chicago is an exceptional place for travelers to live. With its diversity, top-notch art and entertainment, and world-class museums, Chicago residents like myself can “travel” without even leaving the city. Sometimes day trips to different neighborhoods quench the travel thirst. Other times, you just need an overnight staycation to really make it feel like you’ve traveled someplace new. A perfect place to do just that is Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel.

Suites

The newly renovated suites at Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel work well for families, couples, and even solo travelers. I shared a 1-bedroom, 2-room suite with my 8-year-old daughter and her friend. My daughter and I shared the king bed in the private bedroom; her friend slept on the pull-out sofa in the living room. The bathroom has two doors: one to the bedroom, and one to the living room. Both doors lock from the inside to ensure privacy. There is a television in the bedroom as well as a sizable closet. In the living room, there is a larger television, the aforementioned sleeper sofa, over-sized chair, and a desk with ample work space (or “play space”, in our situation). The suite really was an ideal set-up for the three of us.

Hotel amenities and features

The expansive lobby of Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel has an inviting, subtle sophistication to it. The modern design of the furniture makes you want to just sit down and relax for a while. There’s even one section of the lobby – a nook, if you will, but larger – where I could see myself sitting for hours, reading and drinking coffee (or cocktails, if we’re being realistic), if I were there without kids.

“The Nook”

With four dining options, there is no need to leave the hotel for meals. Asado Urban Grill, the hotel’s “new elevated casual restaurant”, has all three meals of the day covered. Breakfast options include buffet, continental, and full-fare. As for lunch and dinner, the Southwest-influenced menus are diverse enough to appeal to an array of tastes. I thoroughly enjoyed the blackened mahi-mahi tacos and cilantro rice, and loved the Watergate craft cocktail even more (I’d have had a few more but I was responsible for two children, one of whom doesn’t even belong to me). Speaking of cocktails, another dining option is R Bar, the hotel’s lobby bar, which serves inventive cocktails like the Watergate, local craft beers, and small bites. If it’s a snack, a coffee, or a sweet treat you’re after, the in-house Starbucks and The Market have just what you need.

Aside from food, the most important hotel amenity, as far as the kids are concerned, is the pool, right? They will not be disappointed by Renaissance Chicago O’Hare’s pool. It’s large enough that it won’t feel like all the kids are on top of one another and they all have enough room to jump, play, and splash. On the same note, the adults will not be disappointed by the adjacent hot tub.

Location

As I previously mentioned, a stay at Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel can make you feel as if you’ve traveled someplace new. One of the big reasons is that, despite technically being located in Chicago, it’s well outside of the downtown area, just 3.5 miles from O’Hare International Airport. The hotel’s proximity to the airport also makes it an excellent option for travelers who need a place to stay the night(s) before or after a flight out of or into O’Hare. The hotel does offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.

Chicago family staycation itinerary ideas

On the way to, from, or during your staycation, here are some area attractions worth considering:

Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont. It’s the place for family fun! Catch a movie and a meal at AMC Dine-In, do indoor skydiving at iFly, or eat some schnitzel at Hofbräuhaus! On the way to Renaissance Chicago O’Hare for our staycation, the kids and I stopped at MB Financial Park for lunch and a little bowling at Kings.

Kohl Children’s Museum, Glenview. Approximately 20 minutes by car from the hotel, Kohl is home to 17 permanent exhibits. Almost everything at the museum is interactive and hands-on. My kids love Kohl Children’s Museum so we dropped by before heading from our staycation and caught the Science + You temporary exhibit near the end of its run.

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Approximately 30 minutes by car from the hotel, Chicago Botanic Garden is a living plant museum. The Garden is actually made up of 27 distinct gardens, covering a total of 385 acres. Open 365 days a year, Chicago Botanic Garden hosts seasonal events, art exhibitions, and flower shows.

Much thanks to Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel for hosting my daughter, her friend, and me for our overnight staycation. Thanks, also, to Kohl Children’s Museum for the complimentary passes. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.

This sounds like a great option for anyone wanting to stay near the airport! The spacious accommodations and the pool are both great selling features. We’ll definitely keep this in mind for the future!

I totally agree that Chicago is a fantastic city for travelers to live in or near. There are so many museums and neighborhoods to explore! It sounds like you, your daughter, and her friend had a really fun overnight staycation. I bet they loved the swimming pool and Kohl Children’s Museum. I’m with you on the lobby’s nook — you’d probably find me there with a book and glass of wine.

I love how a change of scene in your hometown can make you feel like you’ve been away. This looks like a great destination for families – I’m always a fan of a hotel with a good pool! Love the design too.

Meet Francesca and Her Family

Francesca is a Chicago-based travel blogger and working mom of one nerdtastic little girl and the sweetest boy in the universe. Francesca aims to show that working parents, like her and her husband, can still enjoy what they fancy in life after having kids. For Francesca, it is travel - with and without her family - music, and premium beverages, including craft beer and bourbon.